COVID and Sleep. What’s The Relationship?

Physioplus is committed to providing you with the knowledge you need to look after your patients during the covid-19 pandemic.

The new Sleep and COVID-19 course completes the second series of courses related to the cornavirus pandemic. There is now a total of 8 free courses for you to get access you simply need to set up a free Physioplus Trial Account (which is free to set up and free to access for ever).  When you login to your Physioplus account simply go to the full courses listing and search for the COVID courses, there are 14.5 CPD points/CEUs available for free on this very relevant topic.

We are grateful to the generous support of World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) who have supported the Physiopedia COVID-19 response.  Physiopedia has been a professional partner of WCPT since 2013 and the two organisations regularly meet to share ideas, projects, ambitions and coffee! Over the next few months Physiopedia and WCPT will continue to collaborate and share knowledge relating to COVID-19, in order to support the global physiotherapy profession through this very challenging period.

The New Course

COVID-19 and Sleep
Fatigue, sleep deprivation and stress are common in healthcare professionals especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sleep and the body’s immune system are inextricably linked. Sleep deprivation potentially impairs the body’s immune response, negatively affects inflammatory homeostasis and may also lead to an increased risk of infection and worsen the clinical conditions caused by a disease such as COVID-19. It is imperative to address sleep health for the sake of healthcare professionals and their patients particularly during the stresses imposed during a pandemic.

Sleep is Essential to Recovery

 

Other COVID-19 Free Courses

COVID-19 and Nutrition
Nutrition is not a cure for COVID-19, but it is a modifiable contributor to the development of chronic disease, which is associated with COVID-19 severe illness and deaths. A well-balanced diet strengthens the immune system and reduces the risk of chronic disease and infectious diseases.  Every physiotherapist should be aware of the benefits of healthy eating and be able to provide sound nutritional guidance to their patients, especially those with chronic disease.

Join This Course Now to Optimise Nutrition for Your Patients

COVID-19 and Physical Activity
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented time all across the world. Extensive social distancing policies have been applied, restricting people’s daily activities across the globe. These social distancing and lockdown measures mean that people have far fewer opportunities to be physically active. Although these extreme measures are important and needed in a time such as now, our bodies and minds still need physical activity and the many related benefits. This course focuses on the importance of physical activity even under lockdown and the implications of physical inactivity during lockdown periods. It also highlights the role of physical activity as part of physiotherapy interventions during COVID-19.

Start this Course Now! For free!

Mental Health During the COVID Pandemic
The global outbreak of the novel Corona virus touches everyone – patients, health care professionals, and the public in general. One important aspect of human wellbeing is mental health which is likely to be overlooked in the pandemic response. In this course, we learn about how the mental health of patients and healthcare professionals could be affected and introduce relevant management strategies.

Help Both Your Own and Your Patients Mental Health Now

Understanding COVID-19
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses such as respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases. In January 2020 a previously unknown coronavirus was identified in Wuhan China. The group of conditions related with infection by this new virus was named Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Following its rapid spread around the globe, the WHO has declared the COVID-19 a pandemic. It mainly presents with respiratory symptoms, fever and can result in severe acute respiratory distress in high-risk populations.

Understanding Coronavirus

Infection Prevention and Control
Procedures and techniques for infection prevention and control are essential for good community health, to limit healthcare-acquired infections as well as control the general spread of epidemics and pandemics. A key component of this is basic hand hygiene which forms the foundation of infection control. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, gowns and goggles allows healthcare personal to treat patients with communicable diseases while protecting themselves and others. The procedures for putting on (donning) and taking off (doffing) of PPE needs to follow specific sequencing and techniques in order to ensure best infection control and prevention practices.

The Best Practice to Limit Spread

Role of Physiotherapy in COVID-19
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a global pandemic affecting a large proportion of the countries of the world. As front line practitioners, it is likely that physiotherapists and physical therapists will come into direct contact with patients that are infected by this virus. It is therefore essential that they understand the many aspects of their role in identifying, containing, mitigating and treating the symptoms of this disease. This includes implementing methods to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, initiating early identification strategies, and dealing with identified cases appropriately in the clinic and home environments. Note: a detailed review of the physiotherapy respiratory care of these patients will be addressed in a subsequent course.

Physiotherapy and COVID-19 Management

Respiratory Management of COVID-19
Approximately 15% of individuals with COVID-19 develop moderate to severe disease and require hospitalisation and oxygen support, with a further 5% who require admission to an Intensive Care Unit and supportive therapies including intubation and ventilation. The most common complication in severe COVID-19 patients is severe pneumonia, but other complications may include Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Sepsis and Septic Shock, Multiple Organ Failure, including Acute Kidney Injury and Cardiac Injury. Physiotherapists need to understand their role in the management of patients with COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting and also in the rehabilitation following recovery from the disease.

Respiratory Management of COVID-19